The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) for the Performing Arts Program made their audience feel as if they were at a Broadway show instead of sitting in the East St. Louis Senior High School’s Performing Arts Auditorium.
Performing Arts concluded its summer program with “Salute to Broadway 2018” on Friday, July 27. The students, ages 6-17, danced, sang, acted and played instruments to various Broadway tunes as Disney’s The Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea,” Sarafina’s “Freedom is Coming,” The Color Purple’s “I’m Here,” Annie’s “Hard Knock Life,” Frozen’s “Let it Go,” George M. Cohan’s “Give My Regards to Broadway” and Alan Menken’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
Specifically, students demonstrated their talent for dance through the Dunham Technique, hip-hop, West African and jazz. West African drumming and the band ensemble roused the packed auditorium, as did selections on the chimes and piano. Also because of a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education that allowed the program to expand and enhance its summer offerings, the program for the first time presented a violin ensemble.
Another new aspect for the summer programming was a partnership with Chris Georgen, PhD student from Indiana University’s Learning Sciences program. Georgen worked with the program to integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) STEM concepts into dance instruction for students, ages 6-8, according to ESLC Executive Director Jesse Dixon. While performing “Let it Go,” students represented how molecules change from a solid to a liquid.
“Our students were spectacular,” said Program Director Jack Williams. “They gave a first-class performance. All of their hard work paid off. I was extremely proud of them.”
Instructing the talented students included choreographers Venezia Manuel, East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts alumna; Ta’Shayla Montgomery, East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts alumna; McKinley Smith, Isis Brown, Jay’Kayla Winford and Williams.
Providing the musical direction were the following instructors: Mary Jo Pembrook, PhD, piano and chimes; Esau Toombs, band; Gerald Babatunde Williams, West African drumming; Dan Bearden, guitar; Rosalind Denise Rogers, violin; and Gail Smith, choir. Dixon emceed the program.
“We are grateful to the parents and family members for allowing us to deposit more knowledge and cultural enrichment into the lives of these students,” said Desiree’ Tyus, Youth Program director at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. “Our art program helps to build confidence, problem-solving, expression, creativity, collaboration, skill development and a strong sense of community.”
“Through a partnership with East St. Louis School District 189 and East Side Aligned, we were able to secure an artist-in-residency that provided visual art instruction for students interested in drawing and/or painting,” Tyus added. “This possibility came as a result of the National Endowment for the Arts grant awarded to the school district to provide out-of-school art opportunities for youth in East St. Louis. The results of all of these positive experiences, which may be years to come, will benefit the students’ community and our world.”
The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts has a long, rich history. The legendary dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham founded the Center for Performing Arts at the SIUE East St. Louis Center in 1964. At its peak in the 1990’s, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided year-round instruction to more than 1,000 youth and became a training ground for professional artists of all disciplines. For decades, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided performing arts classes to students and community members to develop local talent and to cultivate a love of the arts. Classes often culminated in musical and theatrical productions.
With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals - from pre-school through adult - in the Metro 
East. Head Start/Early Head Start and a charter high school are among the programs that offer the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. The Center also assigns first priority to encouraging, supporting and improving the educational success of the residents of East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities. The Center provides comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.
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SIUE East St. Louis Center for Performing Arts concluded its summer program with “Salute to Broadway 2018” on Friday, July 27. The students, ages 6-17, danced, sang, acted and played instruments to various Broadway tunes.